The Lagos State government has announced a definitive plan to phase out commercial bakeries that rely on firewood as their primary fuel source.
State officials cite significant concerns over air pollution, public health risks, and negative contributions to environmental degradation and climate change as the driving factors behind the policy.
Firewood bakeries, which use traditional large masonry ovens heated by burning wood instead of modern energy sources like electricity or gas, are the specific target of the initiative.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, disclosed the strategy, noting the agency has already begun mapping its implementation.
As a first step, LASEPA recently organized capacity-building programs for bakery owners, with a focus on operators still using firewood. These workshops are designed to educate on the risks and prepare owners for a transition to cleaner energy sources.
Dr. Ajayi revealed that the state government will finance a pilot project. This initiative will see the first set of selected firewood bakeries convert to using gas-powered ovens, creating a tangible model for others in the industry to follow.
The overarching goal, according to LASEPA, is to comprehensively address the health and environmental pollution, fire hazards, and sanitation risks directly linked to the operation of firewood-fueled bakeries across the state.
